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More than 80 competitors aged between 5 and 17, both boys and girls, competed to win titles in their respective categories, with competitors travelling from across Wales, the South West and the Midlands. This was the final event in a series of monthly competitions held under the auspices of the UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association (UKBJJA), the sport’s governing body elect. Individuals competed to win medals in their categories but at this final event of the year the titles for the first ever Welsh Junior BJJ Champions were also on the line.

After a day of hard fought contests, 5 young champions were crowned. Roman Creel and Eve Evans took away the awards for the top boy and girl in the under 40kg category; George Harding and Dali Hopkins were crowned over 40kg boys and girls champions; and Ryan Hill was named top juvenile (15 years and over). Courtesy of Tatami Fightwear each of the category winners received a gift certificate and with the support of the UKBJJA will gain free entry to every Welsh Kids BJJ League event in 2016. Seren Hill received the special “Chwarae Teg” (Fair Play) Award for the competitor judged to have consistently displayed respect to their opponents, referees and staff at the event, to have consistently practiced good Jiu Jitsu and fought hard with a smile on their face. Neil Williams, UKBJJA director and tournament director commented: “Winning the Chwarae Teg Award is just as important as winning the competition categories, as these attributes embody the spirit that we expect from all the competitors whatever their competitive ability.”

The organisers, children and parents all take a break now until February when the Welsh Kids BJJ League starts again but Greg Creel, co-tournament director remarked: “What a great year it’s been. Our intention has always been to get the kids into active competition and judging from today the standard is going through the roof, and that’s not just down to the League but the commitment of the parents and coaches. Thanks to the UKBJJA for support and Tatami Fightwear for the generous sponsorship.”

The UKBJJA (www.ukbjja.org) is a not-for profit organisation which aims to provide a governance structure for the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, that promotes and develops the sport while allowing individual clubs and practitioners the space and freedom to practice the martial art in the way they enjoy. The UKBJJA is currently under assessment to be recognised by Sport England as the governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the UK. The UKBJJA was formed in 2013, ad the

association’s goal is to foster the development of BJJ at elite, community and grassroots levels, raising the profile of the sport but also providing pathways for development and involvement across communities in the UK. Visit UKBJJA at www.ukbjja.org or follow us on Twitter @ukbjja.

Top ranked UKBJJA junior athlete Dali Hopkins is on her way to America to fight her way to the top of the podium in the Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship.
Dali Hopkins became the star of the BJJ kids scene last year, becoming the top ranked UKBJJA junior across all belts, ages and weights and is now on her way to California to compete in the biggest junior BJJ competition in the world.

The UKBJJA (UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association) today made clear its intentions to defend the integrity of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a distinct martial art and to challenge the moves by the BJA (British Judo Association) to set up a rival body to govern the sport through a subsidiary organisation, the BJJUKA (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu UK Association).

Basingstoke School of Martial Arts hosted the final Southern England Kids BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) League event on Sunday 29 November, sponsored by BJJ fight-wear company Faixa Rua, at which the Southern England BJJ Champions were announced.

From January 2016, juniors and juvenile in the east of England will have the chance to compete regularly at friendly and well-organised BJJ tournaments as an Eastern England Kids BJJ League is announced. Entry fees will be low and affordable making the event regularly accessible to all families.

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Related / Documents

The UKBJJA has released a new policy for Junior and Juvenile BJJ. It is the aim of the UKBJJA Board of Directors and UKBJJA Council that this document acts as a framework and set of guidelines for the development of Junior and Juvenile Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) in the UK in a safe and enjoyable environment.